Cong. John Carney sees a trend toward a more bipartisan approach by some House members, although he added that the legislative body remains badly divided.
Carney made his remarks last week at a breakfast meeting of the Delaware Biotechnology Association (Del Bio) at the Agilent site in the Little Falls area west of Wilmington. The site has manufacturing and other operations. The breakfasts feature updates related to science-based industries in the Delaware area.
Carney, a Democrat in his second term, said he has been approached by more Republicans since the election about working on issues of mutual interest.
Carney was less optimistic about the sequester that has cut spending in a number of areas, but does not address long-term issues, such as the demographic problems facing Social Security. Carney noted that a large number baby boomers are retiring and a smaller percentage of the population is around to keep the program solvent.
The congressman said the sequester cuts violate the advice by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernacke to deal with fiscal problems, but do “no more harm” as the economy recovers from a deep downturn.
Carney predicted that the economic expansion would accelerate if Congress got its act together.
The local economy, according to Carney, has been aided by increased domestic oil and natural gas production.
He took note of the train cars of North Dakota crude oil coming into the Delaware City Refinery. Lower natural gas prices have also lowered the cost of operating the refinery.
Refinery owner PBF has spent $50 million on a rail oil unloading area near the refinery.
